Content Intro

Special Education/EIS

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, requires states and territories to provide early intervention or special education services to children and young adults. Early intervention is available for children from birth to 3 years old, and special education services are available to children from 3 to 21 years old. Each installation provides specific resources for these programs and services in local schools or health departments. Before moving, identify programs in your area, be prepared and understand while not all services offered are the same – they are required to be comparable.

Subtopics

Parent Training and Information Centers serve families and adults with special needs from birth to age 26. They assist families in getting appropriate education and services for their children, work to improve education services for all children, train and inform parents and professionals, resolve problems between families and schools or other agencies and connect those with disabilities to community resources. Find out more at the Center for Parent Information and Resources website.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, requires all states and territories to provide early intervention services to children from birth to 3 years of age who have, or are at risk for having, developmental delays. Local school districts or health departments often provide these early intervention services. The program is called different names in different areas, but it is often referred to as Part C (because Part C is the section of the law that pertains to early intervention). The national Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center provides a list of state Part C coordinators and funded programs on their website. Also, Military OneSource can assist you in identifying early intervention programs in your area. When moving, you should hand-carry copies of your child's individual family service plan and the most current evaluation reports to your new home to ensure they are not lost.

The IDEA requires that all states and territories provide special education and related services to eligible children between the ages of 3 and 21. Each local school district has a special education director, and each school should have an individualized education program team or school-based committee that attends to students with special education needs.

The IDEA requires that if a child transfers to a different district in the same state, the receiving school must provide a free, appropriate public education, including comparable services, until the new school adopts the previously held individualized education program or develops, adopts and implements a new individualized education program. If a child transfers to another state, the receiving district must provide comparable services until the receiving district completes an evaluation and creates a new individualized education program, if appropriate.

If you are moving and your child receives special education and related services, you should hand-carry all pertinent school and medical documents, including the individualized education program and current evaluation reports. Hand-carrying these documents ensures that they are not lost and allows the new school district to begin the process as soon as you move.

Infants and toddlers are served through the Educational and Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS 706-545-3835) which is a military, medical program that provides early intervention services to infants and toddlers from birth until three years of age. Children needing specialized services are transitioned at three years to the school age special education program in the Department of Defense Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS). Call the Guam EDIS at 671-344-9027 / 9350.

School Age (3-21 years)

The Department of Defense Education Activity provides special education to dependants 3 to 21 years of age who have a disability. In overseas communities (DODDS), the availability of services varies according to the size of the community, its location and the military mission. On Guam please call the Director od Students Services at 671-344-9160 / 9579.

Additional Information

Educational & Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS) is a department of the U.S. Naval Hospital; EDIS offers help to children with special needs, through federally mandated Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs and non-IDEA services. The mission of EDIS is to maximize the potential of children who are identified or at risk for delays and intervene in their development. EDIS promotes family-based care, closely involving families in the development of treatment plans. The staff of EDIS comes from a variety of fields to include: audiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, psychology, social work, community health nursing, and early childhood special education. There are two programs within EDIS: Early Intervention, for children from birth to age 3, and Related Services, for children from ages 3 to 21. Care is provided in the least-restrictive environment; in the home for Early Intervention and in the school for Related Services. Delivery of services occurs in the child’s natural environment, which can be the home, child development center, babysitters or any other place the child may spend their day. Services are provided, to the highest degree possible, at the family’s convenience and consider the needs and daily routine of the family and child.

For more information call EDIS at 671-344-9291/9027 or fax 671-344-9322.

The DoDEA-Pacific Guam District Special Education programs provide students with special needs an opportunity to succeed in the least restricted environment. Programs offered are based on the student’s Individual Education Program (IEP). A special education program is in place to meet the needs of students with special needs. DoDEA-Pacific Guam District schools provide services for students ages 3 through graduation from high school, with developmental delays and physical, emotional, communication and learning disabilities. Speech and language services, physical therapy and occupational therapy services are available for students in preschool through grade 12. Prior to accepting orders, contact the Navy or Air Force Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) through your medical treatment facility to ensure continuity of services. For additional information, contact DoDEA-Pacific Guam District Special Education Coordinator at 671-344-9163.

The Guam public school system provides students with special needs an opportunity to succeed in the least restricted environment. Programs offered are based on the student’s Individual Education Program (IEP). A special education program is in place to meet the needs of students with special needs provides services for students ages 3 through graduation from high school, with developmental delays and physical, emotional, communication and learning disabilities. Contact the Guam Department of Education, Division of Special Education at 671-475-0593.

It is highly recommended that you contact the DoDEA-Pacific Guam District Special Education Coordinator or the Guam Department of Education, Division of Special Education before leaving to Guam to ensure that you have the necessary documentation and evaluations to make a smooth transition into your child’s new school.

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